Motion picture machine



May 7, 1935. A. s. HOWELL 2,000,236

MOTION PICTURE momma Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4/ I 122 Haw/Z1" v y 7, 1935. A. s. HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mmmm 3.AVflw/Z y 7, 1935. Y A. s. HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 1931 4 Sheet's-Sheet 3 &

1 602 63 A a/Md! y 1935- A. s.- HOWELL 2,000,286

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mama May 1,1935 PATENT 1 OFFICE MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Albert S. Howell, Chicago,Ill., assignor to The Bell it Howell Company, Chioag notation ofIllinois o, 111., a cor- Application February 12, 1931, Serial No.515,248

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My invention relates particularly to motion picture projecting machinesalthough not limited to this use alone.

Generally speaking the invention has for its ob- 5 ject thesimplification of the operation of motion picture machines, particularlywith reference to motion picture projection machines, and particularlywith reference to lacing of the motion picture film in the machineand;the control of the machine in the event of abnormal shortening ofthe compensating loops of the film between the intermittent and constantfilm feed devices of the machine or breakage or termination of the film.

With this object in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts bywhich the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing,are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and more particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the said drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motion picture projecting machineembodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a partial opposite side elevation of the same with partsbroken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a partial front elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation similar to Figure l with partsbroken away and shown in section and showing parts in differentpositions than those in which they are shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial side elevation similar to Figure 2 with partsbroken away and shown in section and showing parts in differentpositions than those in which they are shown inFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view substantiallyonthelineO-BofFlgurefa;

Figure 7 is a partial section on the line 1-1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a partial section on the'line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, i designates the body of the machine which isinclusive of a forward frame 2 disposed in a. vertical rearwardly,

Disposed at the rear of the lens mount member 4 is an aperturedintermittent feed film guide which is inclusive of a rear face guidemember and a front face guide member I carried on the rear end of thelens mount member 4 for facewise movement therewith into and out of filmretaining relation with the face guide member 6. The intermediateportion of the guide is apertured, as designated at t, in alinement withthe lens mount member 4 for cooperation of a fllm 9 10 in the guide witha lens in the lens mount member in the projection of pictures from thefilm, projection light being derived from a suitable source, such as anincandescent electric lamp H enclosed within the body I at the rear ofthe guide. See Figures 1, 3 and 4.

Sliding movement of the lens mount member 4 is controlled by a forwardlydisposed manually operated lever l2 pivotally mounted on the frame 2, asdesignated at l3, and provided with a pivoted crank block l4 slidablyengaging a vertical slot I! on the lens mount member.

Arranged, one above and one below the lens mount member 4, are twoconstant feedsprockets it which feed the film 9 to and from the ends ofthe intermittent film feed guide in timed relation with the intermittentfilm feed mechanism, not shown, which intermittently feeds the film inthe guide, the film being looped between the sprockets and the ends ofthe guide, as shown in Figure l, to compensate for the-intermittent feedof the film in the guide and the constant feedof the film by thesprockets.

Mounted for independent movement in a vertical slide I! on the frame 2immediately inward of the lens mount member 4, are two plates it whichcarry film retaining devices l9 movable with the plates l8 into and outof film retaining relation with the sprockets. It. See Figures 1 and 4.

Movement of these film retaining devices is controlled by the lever l2and they are moved into and out of film retaining relation with thesprockets It with corresponding movement of the lens mount member 4 andthe face guide member I by means of an inwardly projecting stud 2| onthe lens mount member and slidably engaging in transverse cam slots 22in the plates it, see Figure 4, in a manner fully described and claimedin U. S. Letters Patent #1,624,'l30 granted April 12, 192'! for Motionpicture apparatus on application of Albert S. Howell. Figure 1 shows theposition of the parts with the film retaining devices I! and the faceguide member I in film retaining pofltion with the film laced thereinfor Cal the operation of the machine and Figure 4 shows the position ofthe parts with the film retaining devices 19 and the face guide member 1out of film retaining position for the lacing and uniacing of the film.

Arranged, one above and one below the lens mount member 6, at the frontof the frame 2 are two transverse shafts 23 which extend through andarepivotally engaged in bores through the frame. See Figure 3.

Secured on the ends of the shafts 23 adjacent the sprockets it; are twoarms 24 which extend rearwardly from the shafts and have film engagingrollers 25 mounted on their rear ends, these rollers lying within thefilm loops between the sprockets and the intermittent film feed guidefor engagement therewith. See Figures 3., 3 and Secured on the oppositeends of the shafts 23 are two arms which extend toward each other andhave their free ends pivotally and slidably engaged with each other, asdesignated at 2?, whereby the arms 22 are connected for movementtogether in opposite directions to simultaneously engage theaforementioned film loops and to disengage therefrom. See Figures 2 and5. A spring plunger device 26 on the frame 2 engages the upper arm 28 toyieldably urge the arms 24 to their inner positions disengaged from theaforementioned film loops as shown in Figure l.

Pivotally mounted on the upper shaft 23 between the upper arm 24 and theframe 2 is an arm 25 which extends downwardly therefrom and hasits'lower end engaged with a cam formation 3! on the lever I2 foractuation of the arm 29 with movement of the lever 2.

The upper arm 24 is provided with an extension arm 32 projectingdownwardly from the upper shaft 23 and overlying the arm 28, and a,

stud 33 on the lower end of the extension arm 32 engages in a relativelylarge aperture 34 in the arm 29 to form a lost motion connectiontherebetween. See Figures 1, 3, 4 and 8.

A torsion spring 35 encircles the upper shaft 23 adjacent the arm 28 andlies within an enlargement of the bore of the frame 2 in which thisshaft is engaged, and has one end angularly secured with this shaft andthe other end angularly secured with the arm 29, and yieldably urges thearms 24 in the direction of their outer positions with reference to arm29, the spring 35 being stronger than the spring device 28 so thatnormally the arms 24 are positioned in their outermost position withreference to the arm 29, which position is determined by engagement ofthe stud 33 against the corresponding side of the aperture 34. SeeFigures 1, 3, and 8.

The arms 24 can be moved, against the influence of the spring 35, alimited extent in the direction of their inward position, that is untilthe stud 33 engages against the opposite side of the aperture 34.

The spring device 28 yieldably urges the arms 24 and arm 28 in thedirection to maintain the arm 29 in engagement with the cam formation 3|on the lever [2, so that this lever controls the position of the arms 24in addition to controlling the position of the lens mount member 4, thefront face guide 1 and the retaining devices 18. The arrangement is suchthat, in the position of the lever l2 as shown in Figure 1, the faceguide member 1 and the retaining devices I! are in their film retainingpositions for operation of the machine, and the arms 24 in their inwardpositions with the film engaging rollers 25 spaced inwardly from theloops of the film 8 between the sprockets l6 and the intermittent filmfeed guide.

When the lever I2 is in the opposite position of its movement, as shownin Figure 4, the face guide member 1 and the retaining devices I8 areout of their film retaining positions for the lacing and unlacing of thefilm, and the arms 24 and the film engaging rollers 25 are disposed intheir outer or film loop forming positions, that is in the positionswhere the rollers 25 engage the film to form predetermined loops thereofbetween the sprockets i 8 and the intermittent film feed guide, withobvious convenience in lacing of the film.

In the lacing of the film, the face guide member 1 and the retainingdevices 18 are out of film retaining position and the arms 2-5 and therollers 25 are in their outer or loop forming positions as shown inFigure 4. The film is then laced on one sprocket and is then trainedover the rollers 25 and then engaged on the other sprocket, the filmbeing tensioned against the spring 35 to engage the perforations of thefilm on the teeth of the second sprocket.

Then the lever i2 is operated to move the face guide member 1 and theretaining devices l9 into film retaining position as shown in Figure l,the arms 24 and the rollers 25 being moved to their inner positionsduring this operation by means of the cam formation 3|.

The' mechanism of the machine is driven from an electric motor 38through a releasable clutch 31, see Figure 2, and the clutch iscontrolled as follows.

A lever 38 is arranged on the side of the frame 2 on which the arms 26are arranged and is pivoted on the frame, as designated at 38. SeeFigures 2 and 5. This lever 38 is connected with the clutch 31 forcontrolling it, as designated at 4|, and is yieldably urged into clutchreleased position, as shown in Figure 5, by means of a spring plungerdevice 42.

Pivoted on the lower shaft 23 for movement independently thereof is alatch lever 43 arranged alongside the lower arm 28, and this latch leveris provided with a latch formation 44 adapted to engage a cooperatinglatch formation 45 on the lever 38 to maintain the lever 38 in clutchengaged position, as shown in Figure 2, against the influence of thespring device 42, release of the latch lever permitting the springdevice 42 to operate the lever 38 to clutch released position as shownin Figure 5.

A spring 46 yieldably urges the latch lever 43 into engaged position sothat it automatically locks the lever 38 in clutch engaged position asthe lever 38 is moved into such position.

A manually actuated lever 41 is pivotally mounted intermediately, asdesignated at 48, on the lever 38 adjacent its upper end, movement ofthe lever 41 with reference to the lever 38 being limited by stop pins48 on the lever 38.

Forward movement of the lever 41 from the position shown in Figure 5causes forward movement of the lever 38 to engage the clutch 31 byreason of the engagement of the lever 41 with the lower stop pin 48, thelatch lever 43 automatically locking the lever 38 in clutch engagedposition as shown in Figure 2.

Rearward movement of the lever 41 from the position shown in Figure 2causes pivotal movement of this lever with reference to the lever 38 tocause the lower end of the lever 41 engaging the latch lever 43, asdesignated at 5| in Figure 2, to move the latch lever and release thelever eetherehomwhereimonthespringdevioeh ac-.Juatestheleverltrearwardivtoreleasethe Secured on the latch lever 4s aa pin as which is engaged for movement in an angularly arranged slot I!in the lower arm 2!, so that movement of the arms 24 inwardly from theirnormal inward position effects movement of the latch lever 43 to releasetheleve'r ll to release the clutch 81 to stop operation of the machine,this movement being eilected by engagement of one end oi the slot 58with the pin II. Movementof the pin 52 in the slot it permits movementof the latch lever into released position independently of the arms 24and permits movement of the arms 24 to their outer or loop formingposition independently ofthe latch lever.

As a result of the operative connection between the lower arm "and thelatch lever 48 movement of the arms 24 inwardly from their normal inwardposition causes release of the latch lever 48 from the lever to andconsequent release of the clutch 31 and stoppage of the machine.

Accordingly, if either loop of the film between the intermittent feedguide and the sprockets ll becomes abnormally shortened as by failure ofthe feed the him in the intermittent i'eed guide, the correspondingroller 2' is engaged by the abnormally shortened loop and moved inwardlywith resultant stopping of the machine.

In such case the lever I2 is moved tonlm released position, causing thefilm loops to be reformed by the movement of the rollers 2| to theirouter or loop forming position, after which the lever i2 is returnedtonlm retaining position and the machine is started by forward manual,

movement of the lever 41 to engage the clutch.

The lower roller 25 functions to stop operation of the machine when theend of the film is reachedbyreasonofthefactthattheendof the dim becomesstationary in the guide after it passes out of the range of theintermittent feed mechanism, not shown, operative on the iilm in theguide, with. resultant shortening of the lower iilm loop by feeding ofthe ilim by the lower sprocket l6.

Referring to Figure 6, a lever l4 is pivotaily mounted within the bodyI, as designated at 85, and the lower end of this lever is provided witha safety shutter or screen 4 in the form of a frosted glass mounted in aframe II on the lever, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the pivotal movement of the lever 54, the shutter 56 is movable froma position intercepting the projection light between the lamp II and theaperture I of the intermittent illm feed guide for reducing theintensity of the light on-the tilm, see Figure 8, to a position out ofthe path of the projection light is indicated by broken lines in Figure6.

The lever 54 is'urged in the direction of its. projection light inintercepting position by aspring 58, and a transversely extending rod 50slidabiy mounted within the frame 2 engages the lever 64, as designatedat II, for operating the lever out'of projection light interceptingposition.

A spring-device s: operates on the slide rod so to actuate the leverinto projection lightintercepting position, this spring device beingstronger than the spring II and the spring ll aeting'to cause the lever84 to follow the movement of the rod it and to permit manual operathemanipulationoftheupperendof'thelever.

which projects upwardly through an opening in the frame I for thispurpose. as designated at II.

8. extends through andis slidablyengaged inaborethroushtheframelandissodispoudthatwhentheleverllisinclutchreleasedposition, as shown in Figure 5, acam formation 04 on the upper end of this lever overlies the adiacentend of the rod, and when the lever II is in clutch engaged position, asshown in Figure 2, the cam formation is spaced forwardly of the rod.

Thus, when the lever I! is in clutch engaged position, the spring deviceIt maintains the lever l4 and shutter ll out of projection lightintercepting position for the operation of the machine. when the leveris is moved to clutch released position to stop operation of themachine, the cam formation 04 engag s the adjacent end of the rod andmoves the same to position the lever I and shutter I in lightintercepting position-to prevent damage to the film Accordingly,stoppage of the machine either by hand or automatically by abnormalshortening of the compensating iilm loops causes the safety shutter tofunctim. 1

WhileIhavedescribeda-ndshownthepreferred embodiment of my invention I donot wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as changesmay readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent the following:

i. In a motion picture machine the combination with a ilim engagingmember movable into position to form a compensating iilm loop and intoanother position to be engaged and moved by the film upon abnormalshortening of said loop, of means for predeterminately positioning saidfilm engaging member in either of said positions, and means under thecontrol of said film engaging member and adapted to stop operation ofthe machine upon movement of said iilm engas ns member by said film fromsaid second mentioned position.

2. In a motion picture machine the combination with a dim engagingmember movable into position forming a predetermined compensating filmloop and into'another position to be engaged and moved by the film uponabnormal shortening of said loop, of means for predeterminatelypositioning said nlm engaging member in either of said positions, areleasable driving clutch for operating the machine, and means under thecontrol of said fllm engaging member and adapted to release saidclutchupon movement of said nlm engaging member by said film from saidsecond -mentioned position.

3. In a motion picture machine the combination with a fllm engmingmember mounted on the machine for movement into position forming apredetermined compensating film loop and into another position to beengaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, ofmeans for predeterminately positioning said illm engaging member ineither of said positions, a releasable driving clutch for operating themachine and yieldably urged into released position, a releasable latchfor maintaining said clutch in engaged position, and a connectionbetween said latch and said film engaging member whereby'lheendofthesliclerodlladjacentthelever movement or said film engagingmember by said film from said second mentioned position releases saidlatch.

4. In a motion picture machine the combination with a film engagingmember mounted on the machine for movement into position forming apredetermined compensating film loop and into another position to beengaged and moved by the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, ofmeans for predeterminately positioning said film engaging member ineither of said positions, a releasable driving clutch for operating themachine and yieldably urged into released position, a releasable latchyieldably urged into position for maintaining said clutch engaged, amanually operable member operable in one direct-ion for releasing saidclutch to release said clutch and in the opposite direction to engagesaid clutch and engage said latch to maintain the clutch engaged, and aconnection between said latch and said film engaging member forreleasing said latch to release said clutch upon movement oi said filmengaging member by said film from said second mentioned position.

5. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent filmfeed guide and constant film feed sprocket means for feeding a film toand from said guide, of two film loop forming members movable intoposition to form compensating film loops between said guide and saidconstant film feed means and into other positions to be engaged andmoved by the film upon abnormal shortening of the corresponding loop,means whereby said loop forming members are predeterminately positionedtogether in either of said positions, and means whereby operation of themachine is stopped upon movement of one of said loop forming members bysaid film from its second mentioned position.

6. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent filmfeed guide and constant film feed sprocket means for feeding a film toand from said guide, of film loop forming members movable into positionto form compensating film loops between said guide and constant filmfeed means and into other positions to be engaged and moved by the filmupon abnormal shortening of the corresponding loop, means whereby saidloop forming members are predeterminately positioned together in eitherof said positions, means for stopping operation of the machine andyieldably urged into stopping position, a releasable latch formaintaining said last mentioned means in position for operation of themachine, and means whereby movement of one of said loop forming membersby said film out of its second mentioned position releases said latch.

.7. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittentfeed film guide and a cooperating constant film feed sprocket device oneof which is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into and out offilm retaining position, of a film loop forming member movable intoposition to form a compensating film loop between said guide and saidsprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and moved bythe film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, means whereby said loopforming member is predeterminately positioned in loop forming positionwith movement of said retaining member out of retaining position and insaid second position with movement of said retaining member intoretaining position, and means under the control of said loop formingmember and adapted to stop operation of the machine upon movement ofsaid loop forming member by the film from said second position.

8. In a motion picture machine the combination with an intermittent teedfilm guide and a cooperating constant film teed sprocket device each ofwhich is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into and out offilm retaining position, of a film loop forming member movable intoposition to form a compensating film loop between said guide and saidsprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and moved bythe film upon abnormal shortening 01! said loop, means whereby saidretaining members are operated together into and out of retainingposition, means whereby said loop forming member is predeterrninatelypositioned in loop forming position with movement of said retainingmembers out of retaining position and in said second positionwith-movement of said retaining members into retaining position, meanscontrolling operation of the machine and yieldably urged into positionto stop operation of the machine, a releasable latch ior maintainingsaid controlling means in position to operate the machine, and meanswhereby movement of said loopforming member by said film out of saidsecond position releases said latch.

9. In a motion picture machine the combina tion with an intermittentfeed film guide and a cooperating constant film feed sprocket deviceeach of which is inclusive of a film retaining member movable into andout of film retaining position, of a film loop forming member movableinto position to form a compensating film loop between said guide andsaid sprocket device and into a second position to be engaged and movedby the film upon abnormal shortening of said loop, means whereby saidretaining members are operated together into and out of retainingposition, means whereby said loop forming member is predeterminatelypositioned in loop forming position with movement of said retainingmembers out of retaining position and in said second position withmovement oi. said retaining members into retaining position, areleasable clutch for operating the machine and yieldably urged intoreleased position, a releasable latch yieldably urged into position formaintaining said clutch engaged, a manually operable member operable inone direction for releasing said latch to release said clutch and in theopposite direction to engage said clutch and engage said latch tomaintain the clutch engaged, and a connection between said latch andsaid loop forming member for releasing said latch to release said clutchupon movement of said loop forming member by said film from said secondposition.

10. In a motion picture machine the combination with a compensating filmloop forming member mounted on the machine for movement into position toform a loop and out of such position in a direction inwardly of saidloop, means yieldably urging said forming member out of said position,an actuating member, a lost motion operating connection between saidforming member and said actuating member, a cam member operative uponsaid actuating member to operate said forming member into said position,and means yieldably urging said forming member in the direction of saidposition with reference to said actuating member and overcoming theinfluence of said first mentioned yieldably urging means.

11. In a motion picture machine the combination with a pivotally mountedcompensating film loop forming member mounted on the machineiortintopoaitiontoiormaloopandout oi such position in a directioninwardly oiaaid loop. spring means yleldably urgingsaidtormingmembermitotsaidpositiomanactuating member pivotaliy mountedcoaxiallgwith-said iorming member, a lost motion operating connectionbetween said iorming member and said actuating member. a pivotaliymounted cam member operative upon said actuating member to operate saidforming member into said position. and spring means operative betweensaid ionning member and said actuating member and urging said i'ormingmember in the direction oi said position and overcoming the influence ofsaid ilrst mentioned spring means. h

12. In a motion picture projecting machine the combination oi areleasable clutch ior operating the machine and yieldably urged intoreleased position, a saiety shutter movable to a positiondisposedacrossthepathoiproiectionlighttoanlm inthe machine andyieldablyurgedintosaidposition. a releasable latchy'ieldably urged into positioiifor maintaining said clutch engaged and said shutter in operativeposition, a manually operable member operable in one direction orreleasing said latch to release said=clutch and render said shutteroperative and in the opposite direction to engage said clutch and rendersaid shutter inoperative and engage said latch to maintain the clutchengaged and said shutter inoperative, and means under the control 0!said him for releasing said latch.

ALBERT S. HOWELL.

